ENTOMOLOGY. 1059 



The brown-tail moth, G. H. Fernald (pp. 24-31).— It is stated that the 

 moth was first discovered in this country in the spring of 1897 in Som- 

 erville, Massachusetts. The center of infestation was in the vicinity 

 of a florist who had imported roses and other shrubs from France and 

 Holland. From the evidence at hand it appears that the brown-tail 

 moth had been introduced as early as 1885. The distribution in this 

 country is confined to a part of Somerville, Cambridge, Everett, Med- 

 ford, and Maiden. A brief account is giveu of the life history of the 

 moth and of the nettling effects of the hairs of the caterpillar, and 

 the author gives a long list of food plants upon which the caterpillar 

 has been found. 



Among its parasites are mentioned Phceogenes liebe, Diglochis omni- 

 vora, Euphorocera claripennis. The Baltimore oriole, black-billed 

 cuckoo, crow blackbird, and English sparrow are also reported as feed- 

 ing upon the insects. Spraying experiments were tried with arsenate 

 of lead 1 lb. to 150 gal. of water, Paris green 1 lb. to 150 gal. of water, 

 and Scheele's green 1 lb. to 150 gal. of water. Good results were 

 obtained from all 3 insecticides. The author states that the " rem- 

 edies generally adopted for the brown-tail moth are to cut off and burn 

 the webs during the winter while the young caterpillars are still within 

 them." The Massachusetts legislature has passed a law authorizing 

 the" Board of Agriculture to take steps for the extermination of the 

 moth. 



The distribution of the San Jose or pernicious scale in New Jersey, J. V>. 

 Smith (pp. 32-39). — A detailed account is given of the present status 

 of the San Jose scale in New Jersey, and of the three main centers of 

 infestation. In the older infested places the scale is said to have 

 become much reduced in numbers. 



Hydrocyanic-acid gas as a remedy for the San Jose scale and other 

 insects, W. G. Johnson (pp. 39-43). — The author gives a record of exper- 

 iments with this gas in the laboratory and in the field and concludes 

 "that nursery stock and young trees of 1 and 2 years old to bo 

 replanted should be exposed to the gas for 30 minutes or longer, and 

 that from 0.18 to 0.25 gm. of potassium cyanid should be used for 

 every cubic foot of air space inclosed." On large bearing trees 0.20 gm. 

 of cyanid gave the best results. 



Some notes on observations in West Virginia, A. I). Hopkins (pp. 44- 

 49). — This article contains brief notes on the following insects: The 

 San Jose scale {Aspidiotus perniciosus), Forbes scale ( A. forbesi\ aspara- 

 gus beetle ( Crioceris asparagi), timothy billbug (Sj)henophorus sculjrfilis), 

 timothy-leaf miner (Odontocera dorsalis), clover-seed chaleidid {Bruco- 

 phagus funebris), rose aphid parasite {Ephedras incomplete), spruce 

 gall mite ( Chermes abietis), Cerambyeid and Buprestid beetles, Lymexylon 

 sericeum,Eupsalis minuta, and the periodical cicada {Cica<l« septendecim). 



Notes on house flies and mosquitoes, L. O. Howard (pp. 55, 56). — This is 

 the author's abstract of an article published as Circular No. 30, 2 ser., 

 Division of Entomology (E. S. R., 10, p. 051). 

 20776— No. 11 5 



